TORRINGTON – Neil E. Newman, 67, died Sunday, May 13, 2018.
Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Friday, May 18, at the Goshen County Fairgrounds Rendevous Center with the Rev. Jeff Wayland officiating. There will be a lunch following services and burial will take place at a later date. Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to: Torrington Volunteer Fire Department and/or Goshen County Search and Rescue.
Neil was born Feb. 26, 1951 to Keith and Marjorie Newman, the second of six children. He grew up on his paternal grandparents’ homestead and attended school at Prairie Center. After fifth grade, he moved with his family to the farm located between Torrington and Lingle and he worked along with his father and siblings on the family farm.
While attending Torrington High School, Neil and his good friend, Gary Childs, started Newman-Childs Drywall and worked on projects around Goshen County.
After graduating in 1969, he attended Eastern Wyoming College where he played basketball for the Lancers. Later, he attended the University of Wyoming and, at the same time was building his own contracting business, Hi Plains Construction, Inc.
He also bought property for his own remodel projects. Construction would become his lifelong pursuit.
Neil was well-known and highly respected and he enjoyed a long and successful career as a general contractor. Throughout his career, he built or remodeled numerous commercial, residential, and publicly-funded construction projects throughout Wyoming. His most recent endeavor was his effort in bringing a Cobblestone Hotel franchise to Torrington.
Neil married Kayleen Ochsner in 1984. They later divorced. To this union, the light of his life, Paul Kelly Newman was born. In 1990, Neil met Deidre Kilty and the couple was married in December of 1994. Neil and Deidre were deeply involved in the Goshen County community for 24 years.
He was a past member and officer of the Goshen County Economic Development Corp. and the West Highway Water and Sewer Board. He was a long-time committee member of the Goshen County 2-Shot Goose Hunt and regularly attended the One-Shot Antelope Hunt in Lander. He was a UW Cowboy Joe Club member and UW Club Baseball supporter. Neil was a developer and general contractor, president of Hi Plains Construction, Inc. and managing partner with Deidre in Signature Homes.
Neil loved spending time at the cabin at Hawk Springs and the hunting camp on the South Fork of the Shoshone River near Cody. Everything about Wyoming interested Neil and he was very knowledgeable about its history and industry. He was in awe of Wyoming’s big country and spent many enjoyable days with friends and family on fishing, hunting, camping and pack trips.
When asked by someone “How are you?” Neil’s reply was often, “Oh, I never had it so good!”
Neil was not one to talk about his philanthropic activities but many benefited from his quiet giving. He had a keen sense of business and great intuition and he mentored many.
Neil is survived by his wife, Deidre and son, Paul (Katie); mother, Marge; siblings Jean (Charles) Bedord, Ross (Julie) Newman, Blair (Sandy) Newman, Alice (Kem) Sibbitt and Nancy (Ryan) Reiber, seven nieces and nephews and two great nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Keith.
